luger



Nov. 9 1926. 1,605,963

J. N. LUGER FOLDING TABLE Filed Auggst 9. 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 @Mu/ger i J. N. LUGE'R' FOLDING TABLE Nov. 9, 1926.

'ab MLIfger yifiimya 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed August 9, 1924 gy f item3 raies.

JOI-IN N, LUG-ER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNGR '130 ST. PAUL `TABLE COM- E'ANY, 0F NOB/III ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, A CRPRAIION OF MINNESOTA.

rornnve TABLE.

Application filed August 9, 1924.

My present invention relates to folding tables intended for general use but especia-lly adapted igor use in hotel diningrooms and the like, wherein the number of tables used from day to day varies consider-ably thus making it necessary to move the tables to and irom a storage space.

The primary object of the invention is to provide such a table that, while extremely simple and oi comparatively small cost to manufacture, is very rigid and easy to set up or take down. provides such a table in which allA of the movable parts may be folded and secured, concealed within a depending apron on the top of the t-able. A plurality of such tables may be stacked, the one upon the other, in very compact form so as to occupy a minimum amount of storage. space, and when thus stacked the apron of one table will rest directly on the top of an underlying table.

To the abo-ve end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter describedL and defined in the Claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings;

Fig. l is a perspective view oi the table turned onto one of its sides;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the table folded; and.

Fig. 4E is a fragmentary detail view in bottom plan, showing one of the leg-holding brackets.

The numeral 5 indicates a rectangular table top having a depending endless apron Awhich follows the marginal edge portion of the table top but is inset therefrom'. EX-

. tending parallel to each end section o'l' the apron 6 and secured to the side sections thereof is a transverse depending supplemental apron T. At each end of the table top 5 is ,a pair of legs 8 rigidly connected by upper and lower rails 9 and 10, respectively, and which rails are secured to the intermediate portions of the opposing faces of the legs 8 of each pair. The pairs of legs 8 are hinged at 11 to the under side of the table top 5, inward oit' the supplemental apron sections 7, for inward Jfolding movement toward each other, and when the table is Said invention further Serial No. 731,214.

set up said pairs of legs engage the supplemental apron sections as stop-s to position said legs in perpendicular positions and hold the same againstoutward tilting movement.

To hold the pairs of legs 8 pressed outward against the supplemental apron sections 7, there is provided for each pair oi" .that the distance between the legs of each pair is less than the distance between the two side sections of the apron 6, and that the two pairs of legs are oiiset from each other transversely oi the table so that, when folded, the free end portions of the legs will extend past each other. It-will also be noted that the brackets 12, when the table is set up,

are laterally oiiset from each other and in respect to the transverse center of the table. These brackets 12 are arranged to be folded in opposite directions upon the rails 9 and 10 and each bracket, when folded-is entirely within the plane of the respective pair of legs 8. When the table is set up, they brackets 12 extend at right angles to the rails 9 and 10 and engage the table top as a base of resistance. 1 Y

To position the brackets 12 and securely and rigidly hold the same when the table is set up and thereby irinly hold the pair of legs 8 pressed against the apron sections `7, there is secured to the under side of 4the table top 5 a pair of blocks lei having 4in their outer sides open seats 15 into which the rear end portions ci the vertical arms `'of said brackets extend. It will be noted'thatA the rear ends of the vertical arms'of Vthe brackets 12 are oblique and extend in the same planes as the rear edges of the oblique arms or" said brackets and thel respective portions of the seats 15 are correspondingly formed and thereby securely hold said-brackets against movement away from the table top while said top holds the brackets against upward movement, thus securely holding the pairs of legs against vertical angular movement in respect to the table top. These blocks 14. also hold the brackets 12 against movement in the direction of the folding movement of the pairs of legs 8 and firmly hold said pairs of legs pressed against the supplemental apron sections 7.

To hold the brackets 12 against swinging movement out of the seats 15, there is secured to each block 14; a turn button 16 which may be turned into overlapping engagement with veitical arms of the brackets l2 as shown in Figs. l and 4.

To fold tlietable, it is only necessary to operate the turn buttons 1G to release the brackets l2 from the blocks 14 and swing said brackets out of their seats 15 and onto the rails 9 and 10.' rlhe pairs of legs 8 may then be folded onto the underside of the table top 5. To hold the legs 6 folded, which in turn hold the brackets 12 folded there is provided a lock bar 17 intermediately pivoted at 18 to a block 19 secured to the underside of the tabletop 5 fand which lock bar is arranged to overlap the rails 10 with a slight springing action and thereby securely hold the movable parts of the table folded as shown in Fig. 3.

To set up the table it is only necessary to swing the lock bar 17 into an inoperative position, to release the two pairs of legs 8 and then swing said legs outward and thereafter swing the brackets 12 at right angles to the pairs of legs 8 to cause the same to enter the seats 15, and finally operate the turn buttons 16 to hold said brackets in said seats.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 3 that when the table is folded, the movable part-s are within the apron 6 so that a multiplicity of said tables may be stacked, the one upon the other, without engaging any of said movable part-s.

The above described table has been put into commercial use and proven highly ef ficient for the purpose had in view. The peculiar arrangement of the apron sections 7, pair of legs 8, brackets 12 and the blocks lflproduces a very rigid and efficient means for supporting the table top.

While the invention, as shown, is embodied in a rectangular table, it is of course understood that it is equally well adapted for use on round tables.

`What I claim is:

1. A folding table comprising a table top having a depending apron and transverse depending supplemental apron sections within said apron, legs hinged to the table top inward of said apron sections and engaging said apron sections as stops, upper of blocks secured to the under side of theV table top and having in one of their sides open seats in which the free poi-tions of the brackets are mounted, and from which seats said brackets are released during their folding movement, fastening devices for holding the brackets in said seats, said brackets reacting against the table top as a base of resistance to hold the pairs of legs pressed against trie said apron sections, said seats being arranged to hold 'the bracket against endwise movement in the direction of the folding inovenientvof the pairs of legs and against downward movement away from the table top, and a fastening device for 'voiding the pairs of legs folded under the table top with the brackets between the rails and the table top, said brackets being in the form of the numeral 7 and having the free ends f their horizontal and oblique arms hinged tol the rails1 said horizontal arms having oblique interlocking engagement with the seats `for holding said brackets against downward movement away from the table top.

2. A folding table comprising a table top, pairs of legs hinged to the table top for inward folding movementonto the under side thereof, stops for holding the pairs of legs against outward folding movement, upper and lower rails connecting the legs of each pair, brackets comprising horizontal members hinged to the upper rails and oblique members having their upper ends rigidly secured to the free ends of the horizontal members and their lower ends hinged to the lower rails,` said brackets engaging the table top as a base of resistance and arranged to be folded onto said rails by swinging movement parallel to the table top, blocks secured to the under side of the table top and having in one of their vertical sides open seats in which the free end portions of the brackets are seated during the horizontal swinging` movement parallel to the table top, said brackets and blocks having such interlocking engagement as to hold the brackets against endwise movement in the direction of the folding movement of the pairs of legs and against downward moveinent away from the table top, and fastening` devices for holding the brackets in their seats.

JOHN N. LUGER. 

